Solving the Issues of the World…One Friday at a Time
Group Names:Sam Katz Payton Christensen Jasmine Sears
Global Issue #1:Bullying in Schools
Background of Issue: (who?, what?, where?, when?, why?)
Who: Victims of bullying tend to be be more submissive or anxious. They also tend to be more insecure than others and to cry more often even before the bullying begins. Children who tend to lack assertiveness are also more susceptible to bullying and are considered the perfect victims to bullies. The typical victim of bullying is also physically weak as they cannot fight back as easily as others.
Those who bullied have generally been bullied at some time in life or experience hardship at home. Some bully out of jealousy of the person whom they are bullying and try to bring that person down.
What: Bullying is unwanted, aggressive, and repetitive behavior. Bullying often involves a real or fake power imbalance between the bully and the victim. It includes actions such asmaking threats, spreading rumors, attacking someone physically or verbally, and excluding someone from a group on purpose.Some of the ways they bully other people are by: calling them names, saying or writing nasty things about them, leaving them out of activities, not talking to them, threatening them, making them feel uncomfortable or scared, taking or damaging their things, hitting or kicking them, or making them do things they don't want to do.
Where: Bullying at schools may take place when some teachers in schools may not pay attention to students during classes and therefore take no notice to bullying occurring. It is in places like this where bullying is most prevalent as bullies are not disciplined for their behavior. In addition, 40 to 75 percent of bullying takes place during breaks- lunch, recess, etc. It may also occur on the way to school.Bullying on the bus is most likely to occur in sixth grade as well as the rest of middle school.
When: Bullying has been a big factor in schools. Bullying has always occurred, but it has caused a big commotion in the 21 century. Bullying and teasing start as soon as the child becomes aware of his/her surroundings. Bullying can start as early as preschool and continue through high school. Bullying can continue to occur if the bullied cannot learn how to defend themselves.
Why: Bullying may be caused by higher social recognition for negative behavior rather than positive behavior. TV shows, movies, and such depict negative behavior as comical and entertaining. Having a lack of social skills may also lead one to bully. A bully may become a bully as a result of provocation from a peer. It may begin as an effort to quiet the annoying person and lead to aggressive behavior.
Costs: human and/or financial cost? Teachers, parents, and administrators must improve their monitoring skills in hallways, buses,etc..
Previous Efforts Put Into Place to Help Resolve Issue: There is no federal law that specifically applies to bullying. In some cases, when bullying is based on race, color, national origin, disability, or religion, bullying overlaps with harassment and schools are legally obligated to address it.
Reasons why previous efforts to help resolve issue have failed: One effort that has failed to resolve bullying is telling an adult. Telling an adult can help kids, but kids also say that telling an adult makes it worse. The kids say it makes it worse because after the bully gets in trouble, the bully sometimes will attack or bully more cruelly.
Areas of concern on reaching your desired solution to the global issue: There is a concern when the bully is reluctant to change his/her ways. If the bully doesn't want to change his/her bad habits then that bully should not be granted the right to attend the school. The bully should seek help and/ or counseling to change his/her ways. Bullying cannot be lessoned or stopped unless teachers interact and make an attempt to stop bullying.
How To Deal With A Bully, Without Becoming A Thug: How do you deal with a bully without becoming a thug? In this wise and soulful talk, peace activist Scilla Elworthy maps out the skills we need -- as nations and individuals -- to fight extreme force without using force in return. To answer the question of why and how nonviolence works, she evokes historical heroes -- Aung San Suu Kyi, Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela -- and the personal philosophies that powered their peaceful protests.
YOUR PLAN OF ACTION! (for this section, you will need to provide the most detail as you lay a step-by-step plan on how your group will go about tackling this issue. It is important that you take a look at all the information you have researched and studied and use that information to develop a true, realistic and effective plan of action. The plan needs to include funding, people involved, time length of project, materials needed, etc…)
Most school programs that address bullying use a multi-faceted approach to the problem. This usually involves counseling of some sort, either by students, a school counselor, teachers, or the principal.
Hand out questionnaires to all students and teachers and discuss if bullying is occurring. Define exactly what constitutes bullying at school. The questionnaire is a wonderful tool that allows the school to see how widespread bullying is and what forms it is taking. It is a good way to start to address the problem.
Get the children’s parents involved in a bullying program. If parents of the bullies and the victims are not aware of what is going on at school, then the whole bullying program will not be effective. Stopping bullying in school takes teamwork and concentrated effort on everyone’s part. Bullying also should be discussed during parent-teacher conferences and PTA meetings. Parental awareness is key.
In the classroom setting, all teachers should work with the students on bullying. Oftentimes even the teacher is being bullied in the classroom and a program should be set up that implements teaching about bullying. Children understand modeling behaviors and role-play and acting out bullying situations is a very effective tool. Have students role-play a bullying situation.Rules that involve bullying behaviors should be clearly posted. Schools also could ask local mental health professionals to speak to students about bullying behaviors and how it directly affects the victims.
Schools need to make sure there is enough adult supervision at school to prevent bullying. A child who has to endure bullying usually suffers from low self-esteem and their ability to learn and be successful at school is dramatically lessened. Schools and parents must educate children about bullying behaviors; it will help all children feel safe and secure at school. Children who bully need to be taught empathy for others’ feelings in order to change their behaviors and the school must adopt a zero- tolerance policy regarding bullying.
More Steps to Solve Bullying
In the past, laws have made it illegal to harass one because of race, sexual preference, religion, etc; however, there is no federal punishment for everyday bullying in schools. Efforts such as for school counselors to become more involved in the lives of students. This has failed because some children find it hard to speak up to adults, and this may also cause bullying to accelerate because of a bully’s anger towards the victim for telling on him. The solutions to everyday problems of bullying are as follows: 1. If a student is being bullied, he may find it difficult to speak to an adult. -Parents and school administrators must be able to identify signs of bullying. +Unexplained physical marks, cuts, bruises and scrapes or torn clothing +A fear of being left alone or going to school, riding the school bus +Only using the bathroom at home +Headaches, stomach aches, frequent visits to the school nurse's office +Increased hunger (a possible sign his or her lunch money has been stolen)
- Older children/teens find it harder to speak to an adult because of embarrassment or fear of retaliation. +Parents must learn to be understanding of a child’s needs and feelings. When approached, a parent must let the child know that he/she is listening. This causes more kids to want to open up.
2. A child does not want to speak up about his being bullied in fear of retaliation. - The school must adopt a zero-tolerance bullying policy to rid the school of bullies.
2. School administrators are unaware of bullying in a school. - Hand out questionnaires to all students and teachers and discuss if bullying is occurring. Define exactly what constitutes bullying at school. The questionnaire is a wonderful tool that allows the school to see how widespread bullying is and what forms it is taking. It is a good way to start to address the problem.
3. Parents do not know how to help their child who is being bullied. - Parents should be involved in school bullying programs. +Bullying should be discussed in parent-teacher conferences and PTA meetings.
4. Administrators do not punish bullies or pay no attention to bullying in the classroom. - There is not enough adult supervision within the school. +Both students and teachers can put an effort into eliminating bullies in schools when no teacher is present. - Administrators choose to turn their backs to bullying. +In some cases, how a principal regards and treats his or her subordinates will ultimately influence how most teachers regard and treat their students; therefore, leadership and kindness of the principle of a school determines whether or not a teacher is kind to her students. 5. Administrators in school are willing to help; however, they do not know how to handle the problem. -Schools could ask local mental health professionals to speak to students and teachers about bullying behaviors and how it directly affects the victims.
Mrs. Dedeaux’s Response to Some Bullying Questions
1. About how often do you receive cases of bullying?
Maybe around one every couple of months on average. Sometimes we'll go through a phase where there are more. I'm not always involved in bullying cases, though, because Mr. Notestine and Mr. Dietz handle discipline. So many cases bypass me and go straight to them and I'd have no knowledge of those.
2. In what grade does bullying most often take place?
We probably have equal bullying in both 7th and 8th grades.
3. How has bullying affected the middle school as a whole?
I think some students have heard of bullying cases in the middle school and have attached a stigma to us as a result. That affects our image.
4. Are there any common characteristics between any victims of bullying?
The most common characteristic would probably be that they don't know how to handle themselves well socially and therefore easily fall into the role of victim.
5. Has Woodward put any anti bullying programs in place?
Yes, we currently have No Place for Hate initiatives.
6. If it was up to you, how would you stop the bullying epidemic in middle schools across America?
Bullying and to a lesser degree, teasing, have existed from the beginning of time. I think that it may always exist in some form (even adults can be prejudiced against those who are different or have different views). The best way to work against it is to make people aware of what it is and why it exists.
Solving the Issues of the World…One Friday at a Time
Group Names:Sam Katz Payton Christensen Jasmine Sears
Global Issue #1:Bullying in Schools
Background of Issue: (who?, what?, where?, when?, why?)
Who:
Victims of bullying tend to be be more submissive or anxious. They also tend to be more insecure than others and to cry more often even before the bullying begins. Children who tend to lack assertiveness are also more susceptible to bullying and are considered the perfect victims to bullies. The typical victim of bullying is also physically weak as they cannot fight back as easily as others.
Those who bullied have generally been bullied at some time in life or experience hardship at home. Some bully out of jealousy of the person whom they are bullying and try to bring that person down.
What:
Bullying is unwanted, aggressive, and repetitive behavior. Bullying often involves a real or fake power imbalance between the bully and the victim. It includes actions such asmaking threats, spreading rumors, attacking someone physically or verbally, and excluding someone from a group on purpose.Some of the ways they bully other people are by: calling them names, saying or writing nasty things about them, leaving them out of activities, not talking to them, threatening them, making them feel uncomfortable or scared, taking or damaging their things, hitting or kicking them, or making them do things they don't want to do.
Where:
Bullying at schools may take place when some teachers in schools may not pay attention to students during classes and therefore take no notice to bullying occurring. It is in places like this where bullying is most prevalent as bullies are not disciplined for their behavior. In addition, 40 to 75 percent of bullying takes place during breaks- lunch, recess, etc. It may also occur on the way to school.Bullying on the bus is most likely to occur in sixth grade as well as the rest of middle school.
When:
Bullying has been a big factor in schools. Bullying has always occurred, but it has caused a big commotion in the 21 century. Bullying and teasing start as soon as the child becomes aware of his/her surroundings. Bullying can start as early as preschool and continue through high school. Bullying can continue to occur if the bullied cannot learn how to defend themselves.
Why:
Bullying may be caused by higher social recognition for negative behavior rather than positive behavior. TV shows, movies, and such depict negative behavior as comical and entertaining. Having a lack of social skills may also lead one to bully. A bully may become a bully as a result of provocation from a peer. It may begin as an effort to quiet the annoying person and lead to aggressive behavior.
Costs: human and/or financial cost?
Teachers, parents, and administrators must improve their monitoring skills in hallways, buses,etc..
Previous Efforts Put Into Place to Help Resolve Issue:
There is no federal law that specifically applies to bullying. In some cases, when bullying is based on race, color, national origin, disability, or religion, bullying overlaps with harassment and schools are legally obligated to address it.
Reasons why previous efforts to help resolve issue have failed:
One effort that has failed to resolve bullying is telling an adult. Telling an adult can help kids, but kids also say that telling an adult makes it worse. The kids say it makes it worse because after the bully gets in trouble, the bully sometimes will attack or bully more cruelly.
Areas of concern on reaching your desired solution to the global issue: There is a concern when the bully is reluctant to change his/her ways. If the bully doesn't want to change his/her bad habits then that bully should not be granted the right to attend the school. The bully should seek help and/ or counseling to change his/her ways. Bullying cannot be lessoned or stopped unless teachers interact and make an attempt to stop bullying.
How To Deal With A Bully, Without Becoming A Thug:
How do you deal with a bully without becoming a thug? In this wise and soulful talk, peace activist Scilla Elworthy maps out the skills we need -- as nations and individuals -- to fight extreme force without using force in return. To answer the question of why and how nonviolence works, she evokes historical heroes -- Aung San Suu Kyi, Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela -- and the personal philosophies that powered their peaceful protests.
Link To Watch The Video:__http://www.ted.com/talks/scilla_elworthy_fighting_with_non_violence.html__
YOUR PLAN OF ACTION! (for this section, you will need to provide the most detail as you lay a step-by-step plan on how your group will go about tackling this issue. It is important that you take a look at all the information you have researched and studied and use that information to develop a true, realistic and effective plan of action. The plan needs to include funding, people involved, time length of project, materials needed, etc…)
More Steps to Solve Bullying
In the past, laws have made it illegal to harass one because of race, sexual preference, religion, etc; however, there is no federal punishment for everyday bullying in schools. Efforts such as for school counselors to become more involved in the lives of students. This has failed because some children find it hard to speak up to adults, and this may also cause bullying to accelerate because of a bully’s anger towards the victim for telling on him. The solutions to everyday problems of bullying are as follows: 1. If a student is being bullied, he may find it difficult to speak to an adult. -Parents and school administrators must be able to identify signs of bullying. +Unexplained physical marks, cuts, bruises and scrapes or torn clothing+A fear of being left alone or going to school, riding the school bus
+Only using the bathroom at home
+Headaches, stomach aches, frequent visits to the school nurse's office
+Increased hunger (a possible sign his or her lunch money has been stolen)
- Older children/teens find it harder to speak to an adult because of embarrassment or fear of retaliation.
+Parents must learn to be understanding of a child’s needs and feelings. When approached, a parent must let the child know that he/she is listening. This causes more kids to want to open up.
2. A child does not want to speak up about his being bullied in fear of retaliation. - The school must adopt a zero-tolerance bullying policy to rid the school of bullies.
2. School administrators are unaware of bullying in a school. - Hand out questionnaires to all students and teachers and discuss if bullying is occurring. Define exactly what constitutes bullying at school. The questionnaire is a wonderful tool that allows the school to see how widespread bullying is and what forms it is taking. It is a good way to start to address the problem.
3. Parents do not know how to help their child who is being bullied. - Parents should be involved in school bullying programs.
+Bullying should be discussed in parent-teacher conferences and PTA meetings.
4. Administrators do not punish bullies or pay no attention to bullying in the classroom. - There is not enough adult supervision within the school. +Both students and teachers can put an effort into eliminating bullies in schools when no teacher is present. - Administrators choose to turn their backs to bullying. +In some cases, how a principal regards and treats his or her subordinates will ultimately influence how most teachers regard and treat their students; therefore, leadership and kindness of the principle of a school determines whether or not a teacher is kind to her students. 5. Administrators in school are willing to help; however, they do not know how to handle the problem. -Schools could ask local mental health professionals to speak to students and teachers about bullying behaviors and how it directly affects the victims.
Mrs. Dedeaux’s Response to Some Bullying Questions
1. About how often do you receive cases of bullying?
Maybe around one every couple of months on average. Sometimes we'll go through a phase where there are more. I'm not always involved in bullying cases, though, because Mr. Notestine and Mr. Dietz handle discipline. So many cases bypass me and go straight to them and I'd have no knowledge of those.
2. In what grade does bullying most often take place?
We probably have equal bullying in both 7th and 8th grades.
3. How has bullying affected the middle school as a whole?
I think some students have heard of bullying cases in the middle school and have attached a stigma to us as a result. That affects our image.
4. Are there any common characteristics between any victims of bullying?
The most common characteristic would probably be that they don't know how to handle themselves well socially and therefore easily fall into the role of victim.
5. Has Woodward put any anti bullying programs in place?
Yes, we currently have No Place for Hate initiatives.
6. If it was up to you, how would you stop the bullying epidemic in middle schools across America?
Bullying and to a lesser degree, teasing, have existed from the beginning of time. I think that it may always exist in some form (even adults can be prejudiced against those who are different or have different views). The best way to work against it is to make people aware of what it is and why it exists.